Lubbock received 0.54 inches of rain during the month, well below the
average November total of 0.71 inches, and is now at 12..81 inches for the
year, falling even further behind the average year-to-date total of 18.01
inches. Highlights were odd, even by November standards, with little
evidence of arriving winterers and no consistency to the fall lingerers.
Regional summaries of eBird data can not be acquired in a timely fashion.
As a result, records submitted to eBird may not appear in this report.
Reports from the region that are submitted to the texbirds or leasbirds
listserve can be reviewed in a timely fashion and should appear.
As always, the county follows the site in ( ) and birds are mentioned by
virtue of rarity, atypical abundance, or atypical scarcity.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 3 north of Abernathy (Hale) on 11/20/16 and 2
south of Smyer (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH) the only reports - MOVING IN VERY
SLOW THIS YEAR.
SNOW GOOSE: 1 at McCullough Park (Lubbock) on 11/13/16 (PKi), 1 at the
Plainview Duck Pond (Hale) on 11/15/16 (NP), 1 at Brashears Park (Hockley)
on 11/20/16 (AH), and 1 along FM 2646 (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH) the only
reports - LATE AND STILL VERY LOW IN NUMBER.
ROSS'S GOOSE: 1 at McCullough Park (Lubbock) on 11/13/16 (PKi) the only
report - LATE AND LOW.
WOOD DUCK: 3 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH), 1 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 11/12/16 (DB, LB), and 3 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 11/19/16
(DH, AH) the only reports - LOW NUMBERS SO FAR THIS SEASON.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 6 at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH) and 5 north
of Abernathy (Hale) on 11/20/16 (NP) - PRETTY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN
THE SEASON - FOLLOWING A VERY GOOD FALL MOVEMENT.
CINNAMON TEAL: 1 at the Hale Center WTP (Hale) on 11/14/16 (AK), 4 in
Abernathy (Hale) on 11/20/16 (NP), and 2 at the Hale Center WTP (Hale) on
11/20/16 (NP) - GOOD, IF CONCENTRATED, NUMBERS FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
CANVASBACK: 2 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH), 6 at Clapp Park
(Lubbock) on 11/12/16 (DB, LB), 2 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 11/12/16 (DH),
and 2 north of Abernathy (Hale) on 11/20/16 (NP) the only reports - STILL A
TAD LOW.
REDHEAD: 4 at Lake Six (Lubbock) on 11/3/16 (AL), 6 along FM 2646
(Hockley)on 11/20/16 (AH), 1 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH), and
2 at Hale Center (Hale) on 11/20/16 (NP) - LOW; TYPICALLY MORE MOVEMENT
INTO THE REGION BY NOW.
LESSER SCAUP: 1 at the Cochran County Feedlot (Cochran) on 11/1916 (PKe)
and 3 along FM 2646 (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH) the only reports - LOW.
BUFFLEHEAD: 3 at the Cochran County Feedlot (Cochran) on 11/19/16 (PKe), 3
at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH), and 2 at Dupree Park (Lubbock)
on 11/21/16 (GJ, PJ) the only reports - MOVING IN SLOWLY.
HOODED MERGANSER: 4 at Maxey Park (Lubbock) on 11/20/16 (AH) and 6 at
Dupree Park (Lubbock) on 11/21/16 (GJ, PJ) - ANOTHER WATERFOWL ON THE LATE
END OF THE SPECTRUM.
SCALED QUAIL: 2 at Smyer Cemetery (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH) the only
report - LOW BUT TO BE EXPECTED WITH LITTLE EFFORT REPORTED FROM THE
APPROPRIATE COUNTIES.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 at Roundup Playa (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH), 1 at
the Hale Center WTP (Hale) on 11/20/16 (NP), and 1 at the Smyer Playa
(Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH) - STILL SHOWING SIGNS OF GOOD DROUGHT RECOVERY.
EARED GREBE: 1 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH) and 1 at Smyer
Playa (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE; NUMBERS SOMETIMES PICK UP
WITH WINTER ARRIVAL.
VIRGINIA RAIL: NO REPORTS AT ALL - LOW.
SORA: NO REPORTS AT ALL - VERY LOW.
AMERICAN AVOCET: 17 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH), 1 in Slaton
(Lubbock) on 11/14/16 (AH), 1 at the Cochran County Feedlot (Cochran) on
11/19/16 (PKe), and 1 at the Morton WTP (Cochran) on 11/19/16 (PKe) - GOOD
NUMBERS AND SCATTER FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: 4 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH) the sole
report - LOW BY RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
LEAST SANDPIPER: 16 at Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH) and 54 at
Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH) - GOOD NUMBERS, IF A BIT
CONCENTRATED, FOR THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 2 south of Smyer (Hockley) on 11/201/6 (AH) the sole
report - A TAD LOW.
WILSON'S SNIPE: Six reports of 1-7 birds in the region (Hockley, Lubbock)
during the period (AH, PKi) - A BIT LOW; GENERALLY MORE MOVEMENT INTO THE
REGION DURING NOVEMBER.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 at Brashears Park (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH) and 1 in
Abernathy (Hale) on 11/20/16 (NP) the only reports - LOW; VERY LOW BY
RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS: 1 southwest of Pep (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH), 22 in
Abernathy (Hale) on 11/20/16 (NP), 2 in Hale Center (Hale) on 11/20/16
(NP), 11 at the Hale Center WTP (Hale) on 11/20/16 (NP), 2 near Hale Center
(Hale) on 11/20/16 (NP), 1 along FM 2646 (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH), 1 at
Guy Park (Lubbock) on 11/26/16 (PKi) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER; SOME
EVIDENCE OF A RATHER LATE MOVEMENT FOR THIS SPECIES.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 2 at Brashears Park (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH), 4 in
Abernathy (Hale) on 11/20/16 (NP), and 4 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) on
11/21/16 (GJ, PJ) - GOOD NUMBERS AND SCATTER FOR NOVEMBER.
BONAPARTE'S GULL: 1 at McCullough Park (Lubbock) on 11/13/16 (PKi) and 7 at
Guy Park (Lubbock) on 11/26/16 (PKi) - A TAD EARLY AND GOOD NUMBERS BY
RECENT YEARS' STANDARDS.
COMMON LOON: 1 at Lake Two (Lubbock) on 11/17/16 (PKi) - RIGHT ON TIME AND
IN THE EXPECTED LOW NUMBERS.
GREAT EGRET: Up to 5 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) through the period (GJ, PJ),
1 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the period (AH), 1 at Maxey Park
(Lubbock) through the period, 1 in Hale Center (Hale) on 11/20/16 (NP), and
1 at Miller Park (Lubbock) on 11/26/16 (PKi) - GOOD NUMBERS FOR NOVEMBER
AFTER A SLOW SUMMER AND FALL; HOPEFULLY SOME CAN MAKE IT TO THE CBCs.
SNOWY EGRET: Up to 1 at Dupree Park (Lubbock) through the period (GJ, PJ),
up to 2 at Leroy Elmore Park (Lubbock) through the period (AH), and up to 4
at Maxey Park (Lubbock) through the period (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR RECENT
NON-DROUGHT YEARS; HOPEFULLY SOME WILL STICK.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON: 1 at Brashears Park (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH) -
RATHER LATE FOR THIS SPECIES TO BE IN OUR REGION AWAY FROM LUBBOCK'S WINTER
ROOSTS.
WHITE-TAILED KITE: 1 near Close City (Garza) on 11/15/16 (JB) - A RARE
VISITOR TO THE SITE, WITH LATE FALL/WINTER SIGHTINGS VERY UNUSUAL.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 1 in Plainview (Hale) on 11/4/16 (VS) - A RARE ATOP
THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT SIGHTING.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER: 1 in the Tech Terrace neighborhood (Lubbock) on
11/7/16 (WW), 3 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/15/16 (PKi), and at
Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 11/25/16 (AZ, photographs) - FAIRLY GOOD FOR
NOVEMBER; IT WILL BE INTERESTING, AFTER LAST WINTER'S IRRUPTION, TO SEE
WHAT DECEMBER BRINGS.
MERLIN: 1 southeast of Pep (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH), 1 southwest of Pep
(Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH), and 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 11/20/16 (WW)
- A BIT LOW SO FAR THIS 'WINTER'.
PEREGRINE FALCON: 1 south of Roundup (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH), 1 in the
Tech Terrace neighborhood (Lubbock) on 11/7/16 (WW), 1 at the Hale Center
WTP (Hale) on 11/14/16 (AK), and 1 at the Roundup Playa (Hockley) on
11/20/16 (AH) - LOW NUMBERS SO FAR BUT GREAT SCATTER.
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER: 1 southwest of Pep (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH,
photographs) - A CONTINUING, LATE SEASON RECORD - THE THIRD TIME THE
SPECIES HAS PERSISTED THIS LATE INTO THE SEASON IN THE REGION.
SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 in Pep (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH) and 2 in Pep (Hockley) on
11/20/16 (AH) the only reports - A BIT LOW, GIVEN THE FANTASTIC SUMMER AND
FALL.
EASTERN PHOEBE: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/13/16 (DH) and 1
at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/29/16 (KH) the only reports - LOW.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) from 11/3/16
though at least 11/29/16 (PKi, JB, DB, LB, DH, KH, PKe, LM, photographs) -
FORMERLY ACCIDENTAL TO THE REGION; NOW ACCIDENTAL WITH INADEQUATE RECORDS
TO CLAIM ANY KIND OF SEASONALITY.
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER: 1 near Justiceburg (Garza) on 11/11/16 (AH) the
last report - FAIRLY LATE FOR THE REGION BUT THE SPECIES IS PERSISTING
LATER WITH EACH PASSING WINTER.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO: 1 southwest of Pep (Hockley) from 11/5/16 through
11/20/16 (AH, photographs) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS, OUR LATEST OF THE
SOLITARY VIREO COMPLEX.
COMMON RAVEN: 2 near Close City (Garza) on 11?15/16 (JB) the only report -
LOW BUT LITTLE EFFORT REPORTED FROM BELOW THE ESCARPMENT.
BARN SWALLOW: 1 west of Anton (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH, photographs) - ONE
OF OUR VERY RARE NOVEMBER SWALLOW SIGHTINGS.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 2 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/13/16 (DH)
- ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS RARE WINTER VISITOR.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 11/19/16 (DH, AH, AZ)
- A GOOD SIGHTING; WE DON'T GET THEM EVERY WINTER.
HOUSE WREN: 1 southwest of Pep (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH) the only report -
LOW.
WINTER WREN: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 11/19/16 (AH) the only report so
far - RUNNING A TAD LATE THIS YEAR.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 11/19/16 (DH, AH) the
only report so far - RUNNING LATE THIS YEAR?
EASTERN BLUEBIRD: 1 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/26/16 (PKi) and
2 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/29/16 (KH) - VERY RARE ATOP THE
CAPROCK ESCARPMENT; EVEN IN THE WANDERING YEARS.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 3 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/3/16 (PKi), 2
in Pep (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH), 6 southwest of Pep (Hockley) on 11/5/16
(AH), 11 near Post (Garza) on 11/15/16 (JB), 4 at the Lubbock Cemetery
(Lubbock) on 11/15/16 (PKi), 1 in Pep (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH), and 4 at
the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on 11/29/16 (KH) - GREAT NUMBERS AND EVEN
BETTER SCATTER - A GOOD BLUEBIRD 'WINTER' SO FAR.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 4 in Pep (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH), 1 southeast of Pep
(Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH), 5 near Post (Garza) on 11/15/16 (JB), and 2
along FM 2646 (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH) - A TAD LOW, ACTUALLY, GIVEN
NUMBERS OF OTHER, GENERALLY RARER, BLUEBIRDS IN THE REGION.
HERMIT THRUSH: 1 in Pep (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH) and 1 along the Purina
Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 11/26/16 (PKi) the only reports - VERY LOW.
BROWN THRASHER: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 11/19/16 (DH, AH) and 1 in a
Lubbock yard (Lubbock) on 11/21/16 (JC) - THE ONLY ABOVE THE CAPROCK
ESCARPMENT SIGHTINGS.
SAGE THRASHER: 1 at the Smyer Playa (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH) the only
sighting - A TAD LOW.
CEDAR WAXWING: Six reports of 2-23 birds in the region (Hale, Hockley,
Lubbock) during the period (DH, AH, KH, NP) - ON THE FENCE; THIS COULD BE
OUR AVERAGE, RATHER POOR, MOVEMENT OR WE COULD BE ON THE CUSP OF A GOOD
WINTER.
HOUSE SPARROW: The usual overwhelming numbers - JUST PUT THIS IN AS A
REMINDER OF HOW MUCH THE TAXONOMY WAS CHANGED BY THE AOU THIS LAST GO
AROUNDâº
SPRAGUE'S PIPIT: 1 near Close City (Garza) on 11/15/16 (JB) and 1 near
Tahoka (Lynn) on 11/23/16 (JB) - FORMERLY CONSIDERED BUT CASUAL TO THE
REGION; NOW RECOGNIZED AS AN ANNUAL FALL and SPRING MIGRANT.
PINE SISKIN: 2 near Post (Garz) on 11/15/16 (JB) the only report - LATE AND
LOW.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 2 near Close City (Garza) on 11/15/16 (JB) the
only report - RIGHT ON TIME BUT FIRST SIGHTING MUCH FURTHER SOUTH THAN
USUAL.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: Six reports of 1-2 birds in the region (Garza,
Hockley, Lubbock) during the period (JB, AH, DH, AZ) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
WINTERING NUMBERS AFTER AN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD FALL MOVEMENT.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT: 1 male at the Justiceburg Rest Area (Garza) on
11/14/16 (AH) the only report - A TAD LOW.
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on
11/26/16 (PKi) - NOT AN EXCEPTIONAL BIRD FOR THE REGION BUT THIS IS A VERY
FAR 'UPSTREAM' SIGHTING FOR THE COUNTY.
CHIPPING SPARROW: 3 west of Anton (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH), 1 at Clapp
Park (Lubbock) on 11/12/16 (DB, LB), 8 at the Lubbock Cemetery (Lubbock) on
11/13/16 (DH), and 4 in Pep (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH) - ABOUT AVERAGE FOR
THIS LATE IN FALL MIGRATION.
FIELD SPARROW: 1 at the Purina Mountain Bike Trail (Lubbock) on 11/26/16
(PKi) the only report - VERY LOW SO FAR THIS SEASON.
FOX SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 11/189/16 (DH, AH) and 1 near
Petit (Hockley) on 11/20/16 (AH) the first of the season - RIGHT ON TIME; A
BIT LOW IN NUMBERS SO FAR.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 1 at Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 11/19/16 (DH, AH, AZ)
the first of the season - RARER TO THE REGION WITH EACH WINTER; WE WILL
HOPE THIS BODES WELL THIS YEAR.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 1 male south of Roundup (Hockley) on 11/5/16 (AH)
and one male over Clapp Park (Lubbock) on 11/19/16 (DH, AH) the only
reports - THE TYPICAL WINTER FALL OFF FROM FAIRLY GOOD FALL NUMBERS.
BRONZED COWBIRD: 10 in Brownfield (Terry) on 11/26/16 (PKe, photographs) -
THE FIRST NOVEMBER RECORD FOR THE SPECIES IN THE REGION, SO FAR AS I KNOW,
AND SURPRISINGLY LATE IN THE MONTH. WE WONDER, EACH YEAR, HOW CLOSE THIS
SPECIES IS TO BECOMING A PERMANENT RESIDENT?
OBSERVERS: JB=Justin Bosler, DBÚvid Brotherton, LB=Luanne Brotherton,
JC=Jim Crites, DH=Drew Harvey, AH=Anthony Hewetson, KH=Kelly Himmel,
GJ=George Jury, PJ=Pat Jury, AK=Andrew Kasner, PKe=Peter Keyel, PKi=Phillip
Kite, AL=Alan Livingston, LM=Liam McGuire, NP=Niler Pyeatt, VS=Victoria
Solis, WW=William Wenthe, AZ=Angelina Zappia.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson, Lubbock
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